Auditory Thresholds of Short Tones as a Function of Repetition Rates

Abstract

Auditory thresholds were obtained for repeated short tones (sine-wave) with repetition rates between 14 and 100 per second, and tone durations between 1 and 50 milliseconds. Both noise-masked and quiet thresholds were measured, Although the total energy in a stimulus can be changed by varying either the repetition rate or the duration, the results show that only in the latter case is there an equivalent shift in the threshold. Discussion of the results in terms of spectral distribution of energy of such tones leads to the conclusion that the ear does not perform a Fourier analysis of these tones. Further discussion indicates the conditions necessary for temporal integration of acoustic energy by the ear.